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Perry Watkins - Jack and the Beanstalk: Props (Arrows, Gold Bag, Oboe, Violin, Bows, Bread)

Jack and the Beanstalk: Props (Arrows, Gold Bag, Oboe, Violin, Bows, Bread) (1934-1943)

Perry Watkins (American, 1907-1974 )
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License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects.
Why is this image in the public domain?
This work was commissioned by the United States federal government as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. It is not subject to copyright protection.

Perry Watkins was the first African American set designer on Broadway. He was also a stage painter, makeup and costume artist, producer, and film art director.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 13, 1907, Watkins attended Hope High School where he and a friend hand wrote and decorated a daily newspaper called “The Foolscape.” Awarded a scholarship to study art at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1926, he studied figure drawing under Vincent Bernasconi and still life under Asa G. Randall, the school’s most prominent artists.

Despite having his paintings displayed at the Springfield (Massachusetts) Museum and the Providence Art Club, he struggled financially and worked as a waiter, chauffeur, insurance salesman, reporter, draftsmen, and commercial illustrator. By 1936, unemployed and broke, he applied to the Federal Theatre Project with a sample production, and was quickly employed.

Starting as a stagehand and becoming assistant technical director at Lafayette Theatre in New York City, he began a flurry of work, painting drops, dying costumes, and operating the lighting for several shows.

In 1939 Watkins made a breakthrough, becoming the first black Broadway set designer when he was commissioned by Guthrie McClintock for Mamba’s Daughters.

As a result of the show’s incredible success and a recommendation by Robert Edmond Jones, Watkins was permitted to take the drafting and art exam for admission into the Set Designer’s Union. He passed it easily and became the first African American to be admitted. In 1939 he taught in the Rose McClendon Workshop Theatre and the following year designed the set for the revival of The Big White Fog at Lincoln Theatre in Harlem.

Later in life he ventured into film and television, working on art direction and design for films such as Hercules in New York (1969) which debuted Arnold Schwarzenegger, Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972), the critically acclaimed blaxploitation film Across 110th Street (1972), and Gordon’s War (1973).

Perry Robert Watkins passed away August 14, 1974 in New York City at the age of 66.

In Collection: Federal Theatre Project (View all 1212)

The Sun and I: Joseph. Multicolored coat

The Sun and I: Joseph. Multicolored coat (1934-1943)

B. House (American, 19th/20th century)
The Alcestis of Euripedes: Props – Pedastal and Tripod

The Alcestis of Euripedes: Props – Pedastal and Tripod (1934-1943)

John Glidden (American, 19th/20th century)
Free Shows in the Park

Free Shows in the Park (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Looking Backward: Russian Girl purple vest over peach blouse

Looking Backward: Russian Girl purple vest over peach blouse (1934-1943)

Alex Jones (American, 19th/20th century)
A Christmas Carol: Christmas Present

A Christmas Carol: Christmas Present (1934-1943)

Buell Fuller (American, 19th/20th century)
Swing It

Swing It (1934-1943)

Anonymous
The Rivals: Red vest, orange coat, orange breeches, white cravat

The Rivals: Red vest, orange coat, orange breeches, white cravat (1934-1943)

Alex Jones (American, 19th/20th century)
The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness (1934-1943)

Anonymous
The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Created Equal: Sketch no. 2b, Lantern Slide

Created Equal: Sketch no. 2b, Lantern Slide (1934-1943)

Paul Cadorette (American, 20th Century)
Big Blow

Big Blow (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Abstract Colors

Abstract Colors (1934-1943)

Anonymous
Created Equal: Sketch no. 6, Lantern Slide (Bayonets)

Created Equal: Sketch no. 6, Lantern Slide (Bayonets) (1934-1943)

Paul Cadorette (American, 20th Century)
Pierre Patelin: Master Patelin. Ragged black robe, yellow hat, and orange scarf

Pierre Patelin: Master Patelin. Ragged black robe, yellow hat, and orange scarf (1934-1943)

Miss Lucy
The Dictator

The Dictator (1934-1943)

Anonymous
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License: All public domain files can be freely used for personal and commercial projects.
Why is this image in the public domain?
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